University Relaunches P.E. Requirement as “Theory of Sport” Lecture Series

By Nora Helfand

Aug. 2, 2013

It has only been a year since UChicago waived its long-standing physical education requirement to the delight of many of its students. But if you ask eminent professor Mark Greeley from the College’s Department of Physical Education, the change has done much more harm than good.

“It hurts my heart to imagine these students entering the workplace without having experienced a truly comprehensive liberal arts curriculum,” Prof. Greeley told the Dealer on Thursday. “The study of such ingrained societal rituals as dodgeball and badminton holds a revered place in the Life of the Mind.”

With this concern in mind, Greeley has convinced the University to relaunch the P.E. requirement with a series of lectures entitled “Theory of Sport.” The series, which Greeley will teach to hundreds of students starting this fall, focuses less on mastery of basic skills such as catching a frisbee and more on the principles that underlie these processes.

“It is my firm belief that we cannot expect students to truly excel without a proper grounding in physiology, kinesiology, and of course, the works of great P.E. philosophers such as Pheidippides,” Greeley said, before he began wheezing and asked to sit down for a break.

Student reactions to the new requirement have been mixed. Some seem concerned that the course strays too far from its stated mission. “I’ve looked at the syllabus” says fourth-year Brandon Mooney. “The exams involve applications such as performing pushups. We cover calisthenic theory in class, but I can’t believe a professor would ask us to apply something we’ve only read about.”

Other students, such as second-year Cory Reich, are excited for the class. “I’ve always thought that theory was more important than practice,” he told The Dealer yesterday, before turning back to his copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People.